Articles by Somita Pal
Panel formed to create job opportunities for cured leprosy patients
The state health department in Mumbai has formed an 11-member committee to create job opportunities and rehabilitate patients cured of leprosy. The committee will also raise awareness about government schemes for leprosy patients and coordinate between different government departments. The programme will include skill training to increase employment opportunities for recovered patients.
Updated on Jul 31, 2023 12:21 AM IST
City sees two-fold rise in leprosy cases in 2022-23; 77% in advanced stage
Mumbai has seen a two-fold increase in new leprosy cases in 2022-23 compared to the previous year, with 626 cases reported. The majority of cases are multibacillary leprosy, and there has also been a rise in Grade II cases. The city's health department attributes the increase to special drives conducted after the pandemic. Prompt detection and treatment are crucial to preventing deformities caused by the disease. Health experts emphasize the need for early detection and referral to interrupt transmission and achieve the government's goal of zero leprosy transmission by 2027. Migration and high disability rates are contributing factors in Mumbai's rise in cases.
Updated on Jul 31, 2023 12:20 AM IST
How the city’s largest civic hospital revamped its kitchen
KEM Hospital’s cooks churn out 50 kilos of rice, 28 kilos of dal, 50 kilos of vegetables and close to 1,200 chapatis daily. While the hospital wanted to have an air-conditioned kitchen like that of ISKCON, the idea was dropped since KEM is a heritage structure. However, other civil work was done, and the previous storage system was replaced
Updated on Jul 27, 2023 12:54 AM IST
After scam Tata Memorial looks for tie-ups with private diagnostic centres
The Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai is considering tying up with diagnostic centers to provide good quality scans at the same cost as at the hospital. This comes after 21 hospital staffers were booked in a racket for referring patients to private labs for commissions.
Updated on Jul 25, 2023 12:25 AM IST
JJ Hospital’s panel on clinical drug trials suggests action against ex-dean
A committee at JJ Hospital in Mumbai has submitted its final report on clinical trials conducted since 2018, recommending action against the ex-dean for not following due process in signing an MoU with Parshwa Life Sciences and renting out rooms for drug trials. The committee also found that principal investigators did not follow due diligence. The hospital has received ?70 lakh ($98,700) in pending dues from doctors involved in the trials. The committee suggested a financial audit of all trials since 2018 and the implementation of institution guidelines for future trials.
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 12:47 AM IST
Gadchiroli tribals get lower back pain management programme
An intense community-based study of two villages revealed that 53% of adults had lower back pain, and annually 75 % of adults developed backache problems at some point of time. Lower back pain is a major handicap, as it also leads to loss of productivity and income
Updated on Jul 18, 2023 12:45 AM IST
JJ hospital’s honorary physician linked to jumbo Covid-19 centres scam sacked
Dr Hemant Gupta, an honorary physician at Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, has had his contract terminated after his name came up in an ongoing investigation into an alleged scam related to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's jumbo Covid-19 centres. Dr Gupta is one of the co-owners of M/s Lifeline Hospital Management Services, which secured a contract from the BMC to provide manpower at the jumbo centres. The Enforcement Directorate alleges that the company obtained the contract using forged documents and had no previous experience in providing manpower for medical facilities.
Updated on Jul 15, 2023 01:14 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
State derecognises College of Physicians and Surgeons courses
The state government of Mumbai has derecognised all courses run by the College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) due to several deficiencies found by the medical education department. To compensate for the loss, the government plans to increase 800 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats through various hospitals. The CPS courses were diploma courses and not post-graduate.
Updated on Jul 15, 2023 12:58 AM IST
BMC seeks NABH certification to boost patient care for its hospitals
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai has decided to pursue National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation for all major and peripheral hospitals in order to improve patient care. The accreditation focuses on patient safety and the quality of services provided by hospitals. The process will require streamlining operational processes and documentation work, as well as maintaining proper staffing levels and patient ratios. The NABH accreditation is expected to improve hygiene, maintenance of records, and overall patient care in civic hospitals.
Updated on Jul 13, 2023 12:36 AM IST
JJ Hospital gets ₹59 lakh clinical trial dues
JJ Hospital in Mumbai has received ?59 lakh ($79,000) from doctors involved in clinical drug trials following an investigation by a five-member committee. The preliminary report found that many principal investigators had not followed due diligence, failing to keep records or understand the trials. The committee will continue its investigation into the trials, while the report will be submitted to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research. The investigation also found that the ex-dean of the hospital had signed a memorandum of understanding with a private firm without following government-defined renting rates.
Updated on Jul 11, 2023 01:01 AM IST
BMC hospitals to get full-fledged organ transplant programme
Four tertiary care hospitals run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Mumbai are set to launch a full-fledged organ transplant programme, including heart and lung transplants. The hospitals will seek the assistance of organ transplant experts from private hospitals to set up and strengthen the programme, with the aim of providing transplantation services to poor patients who cannot afford treatment at private hospitals.
Updated on Jul 08, 2023 12:38 AM IST
Nanavati Hospital consultant booked for sexually harassing resident doctor
The 27-year-old complainant submitted a written application about the harassment, saying she had also written an email to the hospital authorities, formally apprising them about the situation
Updated on Jul 07, 2023 12:47 AM IST
Nanavati Hospital resident doctor alleges sexual harassment, approaches police
A resident doctor at Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital in Mumbai has approached the police, alleging sexual harassment by a colleague. The doctor claims that the hospital's HR head threatened her with consequences if she did not withdraw the complaint. The hospital has stated that it has zero tolerance for harassment and will cooperate with the investigation.
Updated on Jul 06, 2023 01:09 AM IST
KEM Hospital gets state-of-art laparoscopic system as donation
KEM Hospital in Mumbai received a state-of-the-art laparoscopy system as a gift from a philanthropist. The system will help doctors treat patients more efficiently and reduce chances of error and complications. The hospital performs over 400 laparoscopic surgeries per year.
Updated on Jul 05, 2023 12:59 AM IST
State medical council begins inspection of CPS-affiliated hospitals
The development comes at a time when the state education department has been contemplating stopping CPS courses in Maharashtra and compensating for the loss of seats by increasing around 1,000 seats of Diplomate National Board (DNB) courses
Updated on Jul 03, 2023 12:28 AM IST
JJ hospital dean asks panel to streamline clinical trials
The dean of Sir JJ Group of Hospitals has set up a committee to investigate clinical trials conducted at the institution involving a private firm and an honorary doctor. The committee is examining the trials carried out since 2018 and the role of the firm and doctor involved. It has found that some doctors were not paid and is investigating whether patients received their incentives. The committee is also reviewing the overall process of clinical trials and will examine the procedures followed by other medical colleges.
Updated on Jul 01, 2023 12:58 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
JJ hospital’s honorary doctor under scanner for his alleged role in clinical drug trials
Dr Hemant Gupta, an honorary general physician at Sir JJ hospital, is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate for his alleged involvement in a ?38-crore jumbo Covid-19 centre scam. Hospital administration discovered that Gupta was operating out of the pharmacology department where unauthorized clinical drug trials were being conducted. A committee has been set up to investigate the matter and determine the nature of the trials and the individuals involved. Gupta's name surfaced in the investigation as one of the partners at M/S Lifeline Hospital Management Services, which is being probed for irregularities in the BMC's jumbo Covid-19 centres.
Updated on Jun 30, 2023 12:23 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
JJ Hospital starts interventional radiology PG course, first in the city
Grant Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals in Mumbai have launched a postgraduate course in interventional radiology. The sub-speciality applies minimally invasive procedures guided by imaging to diagnose and treat diseases in almost every organ system. The college will admit its first five students to the course this year. The interventional radiology concept has gained ground and involves less risk and recovery time compared to conventional open surgeries. The course will strengthen the radiology department of JJ Hospital.
Updated on Jun 25, 2023 01:30 AM IST
Maharashtra becomes first state in India to introduce universal healthcare policy
Maharashtra becomes the first state in India to offer a universal healthcare policy, with the Centre?s Ayushman Bharat and the state?s Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana schemes co-branded. The revamped scheme will provide INR5 lakh ($6,900) cover for 12 crore citizens, regardless of their ration card status, and will cover 1,900 ailments, up from 996. Co-branded cards will be issued to 1 crore citizens by August, with the cost of making the 12 crore cards estimated at INR179 crore, to be funded by the Centre. Maharashtra?s existing MJPJAY scheme has 2.22 crore beneficiaries.
Updated on Jun 24, 2023 12:56 AM IST
KEM Hospital’s Rare Diseases Centre crippled by lack of infrastructure
KEM Hospital, one of the Centres of Excellence (CoE) for Rare Diseases, is facing challenges in fulfilling its mandate due to a lack of space and delays.
Updated on Jun 19, 2023 06:07 PM IST
Uddhav reveals how he remained unbeaten by political and health crises
Uddhav Thackeray, head of Shiv Sena, spoke for the first time about his journey back from near-immobility following surgeries in November 2021. Thackeray was diagnosed with quadriparesis and underwent intense physiotherapy for seven months. Thackeray revealed he incurred censure for remaining inaccessible and avoiding meetings during this time.
Updated on Jun 15, 2023 01:07 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
Ex-JJ Hospital dean Dr Lahane found guilty of unauthorised surgeries
The committee, headed by the hospital’s medical superintendent, conducted a thorough examination of CCTV footage and medical records to find that Dr Lahane had done 698 surgeries without government authorisation
Updated on Jun 14, 2023 12:56 AM IST
Dedicated skin, tissue banks to boost donations
Skin and tissue donations have seen an increase in Mumbai after the establishment of dedicated skin and tissue banks. The recently launched skin and tissue bank at KEM Hospital has recorded seven amniotic membrane donations over the past two months, and the hospital plans to go to people?s doorsteps for skin retrieval. The Wadia Hospital also has a donation bank, but has not yet received any donations. Meanwhile, a private skin and tissue bank in Vakola is spreading awareness and encouraging bone donations, and the Zonal Transplant Coordination Committee is encouraging transplant coordinators to promote tissue and bone donations.
Updated on Jun 11, 2023 12:54 AM IST
Committee to probe Dr Lahane’s ‘unauthorised’ surgeries at JJ
A three-member committee has been formed by the JJ Hospital dean to investigate complaints against ex-dean Dr T P Lahane, who reportedly operated on patients without government orders. The committee will look into all doctors who may have conducted surgeries in the ophthalmology department without government orders. The move follows the resignation of Dr Lahane and Dr Ragini Parekh, head of the department, along with seven honorary consultants on 31 May, following a series of accusations against them and a strike by the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors.
Updated on Jun 07, 2023 12:41 AM IST
Somita Pal, Mumbai
JJ Hospital ophthalmology department limps back to normalcy
The ophthalmology department of Sir JJ Hospital in Mumbai has appointed Dr Ajay Chandanwale to streamline the department after the resignation of Dr Ragini Parekh and seven honorary doctors. Dr Ravi Chavan has been appointed to take charge of the department, with five candidates shortlisted for honorary posts. The department will also fill four permanent vacant posts, while ophthalmology resident doctors have met with the new HoD to discuss thesis allocation. The resignations followed accusations of a dictatorial management style and a lack of practical surgical experience and research opportunities.
Updated on Jun 06, 2023 12:55 AM IST
State medical edu dept accepts resignations of Dr Lahane, Dr Parekh
The resignations of seven other honorary/contract consultants in JJ Hospital’s ophthalmology department were also accepted. The department has moved Dr Ravi Chavan, professor of ophthalmology at IGGMC, Nagpur, to JJ Hospital, to take charge of the department with immediate effect
Updated on Jun 03, 2023 11:57 PM IST
JJ Hosp ophthalmology dept row: Dean sends notice to HOD
On May 30, HT reported on the resident doctors’ letter to the dean alleging Dr Sumeet Lahane son of ex-dean of JJ Hospital and ex-DMER Dr TP Lahane, attempted to manipulate and intimidate them into withdrawing their initial complaint against his father
Updated on Jun 03, 2023 01:19 AM IST
JJ Hospital ex-dean, ophthalmology HoD resign, indefinite strike of residents continues
Even as the indefinite strike by resident doctors at JJ Hospital entered its second day, dean Dr Pallavi Saple, in a bid to address the ongoing crisis in the ophthalmology department, summoned seven honorary doctors from the department who had submitted their resignations citing ‘personal reasons’
Updated on Jun 02, 2023 12:47 AM IST
750 JJ resident doctors on indefinite strike against ophthal HoD, ex-DMER director
The three-member committee at Sir JJ Hospital was formed last week to investigate the resident doctors’ allegations, and found that the doctors were not trained in basic cataract surgery. MARD has also written to the state medical education minister Girish Mahajan and the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) to look into the matter
Updated on Jun 01, 2023 12:37 AM IST
JJ Hospital ophthalmology resident docs untrained in basic cataract surgery, finds committee
A committee at Sir JJ Hospital in Mumbai has discovered that resident doctors in the ophthalmology department were not properly trained in basic cataract surgery. The three-member committee said that the academic activity of junior residents had not met standards set by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences and the National Medical Commission. The department was found to have only one unit, which is in breach of NMC guidelines, and lacked a skill laboratory. The committee called for the formation of two independent functional units and an investigation into ex-dean Dr T P Lahane's continuing practice in the department.
Updated on May 31, 2023 01:00 AM IST